Flashing plug



Sept; 25, H328.

N. ABRAMSON FLASHING PLUG Filed Feb. 3, 1927 INVENTOR.

NATHAN ABRAMSGM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES NATHAN ABRAMSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLASHING PLUG.

Application filed February 3, 1927. Serial No. 165,652.

This invention relates to thermostatic switching apparatus, and more particularly has reference to devices adapted for intermittently flashing lamps, or the like, such as electric signs, or advertising devices.

Devicesv of the kind described herein are known in the trade as plugs and are usually made of large and cumbersome sizes.

The object of this invent-ionis to provide a thermostatic switching apparatus or plug of small size.

A further object of this invention is to provide a thermostatic plug wherein the thermostat is easily removable for adjusting and repairing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plug wherein the means of adjustment and support also act as terminals for the current.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 92,863 filed March 6, 1926.

This invention will be more fully understood in connection with the description of the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1, is a sectional view of my improved plug.

Figure 2. is a view of the thermostat. I shall show and descrlbe my invention as used in connection with incandescent elec tric lamps, but it is obvious that it is equal- 1y well adapted for any other use where the periodic opening and elosin; of an electric circuit is desired.

As shown. the numeral 1, represents the inner shell made out of brass or any other conducting material. 2. representsthe lower portion of the shell, 3 represents a shelf 'pressed inwards from the shell.

The lower end of the portion 2 is formed into a (up shaped receptacle 4. This receptacle is filled with insulating materialh. A metallic bushinfr 6 is placed over the insulatin; material 5.

The upper end and lower portions of the plug are threaded. The upper portion 1 is for the purpose of reeeivingan incandescent lamp, and the lower portion 2 is to be inserted in a socket of a sign.

Into the bushing 6, a screw 7 is inserted, a nut 8 is threaded on the screw 7.

A thermostat 9 made of two dis-similar metals, or of the bi-metal type, the metals being steel on bottom and brass on top.

This thermostat is turned at right angles at 10 and is supported by the screw 7 and the nut 8.

The thermostat is covered for a portion of its length by asbestos covering 11 and a silver contact point 16.

\Vithin the shell 1, and against the shelf 3, I arrange a fiber washer 12, this Washer is punched and a threaded metal bushing 13, inserted in the opening.

Through the threaded bushing 13, a screw 14:- is inserted, adapted to be operated from within the shell 1. The other end of the screw is fitted with a semi-spherical shaped metallic member 15, preferably of silver.

Around the thermostat 9 and asbestos covering 11, a fine wire 17 is wound. This wire starts at the bare thermostatic metal 18 and is closely wound and brought back through the washer 12 and made fast to the screw 14 through the bushing 13. A glass head 19 is inserted on the wire to protect same from short circuits.

An asbestos sheet 20 is placed around the thermostat and wires to prevent short cir cuits.

In operation, the plug is placed in a socket (not shown) and an incandescent lamp is inserted in the plug. The current runs from the terminal in the socket through the screw 7, then through the thermostat 9, then through the wire 17, then through screw 14: to lamp and back through the shell 1 and 2 to the other terminal in the socket.

In the above instance no light is indicated since the current has to traverse through the thin wire 17, and in this instance heats the thermostat 9 and causes it to head downwards until the point. 16 comes into contact with the member 15.

In the last instance the thin wire is short circuited and the current flows directly from the thermostat into the lamp and causes it to light. in this case the thermostat cools oh and contact between 15 and 16 is broken, and the condition in the first instance is repeated. In this manner the flickering or the lamp is obtained.

The screw 1A- serves another function, in that the adjustment of the gap between 1.5

and 16 is controlled thereby. Drawing the screw out widens the gap and the time of the flickering is accordingly adjusted.

The numeral 21 represents a fiber cover for the upper portion of the tubular shell.

What I claim is:

1. In a flashing plug, a contact member, a thermostat supported by said contact member, an adjusting means, one end of which is adapted to be in contact with the article to be flashed and the other end adapted to he in close proximity to the thermostat and in electrical connection therewith.

2. In a flashing plug, a supporting member adapted to be in electrical connection with a socket, a thermostatic switch supported by and in electrical connection with said supporting member, an adjusting means, one end of which is in metallic contact with a lamp to be flashed, and the other end is in close proximity to the thermostatic switch.

3. In a flashing plug, a supporting member adapted to be in electrical connection with a socket, a thermostatic switch, supported by and in electrical connection with said supporting member, an adjusting means, one end of which is in metallic contact with a lamp to be flashed, and the other end is in close proximity to the thermostatic switch, said adjusting means always being in electrical connection with the thermostatic switch.

4. A flashing plug, comprising, a tubular conducting shell having one end formed for insertion into an outlet socket to electrically connect said shell and the socket on one side of the circuit, an insulating supporting member within the shell carrying a center contact for the other side of the circuit, a. thermostat mounted on one end of said supporting member and extending longitudinally within said shell with its other end free to vibrate with changes in temperature, said thermostat being electrically connected to said center contact, a heating coil controlled by the movement of the thermostat for intermittently heating the thermostat, an adjusting screw, one end of which forms the contact for a lamp to be flashed and the other end of which is in close proximity to the thermostat, said adjusting screw being in electrical connection with the heating coil, said shell constituting the other circuit connection of the lamp to be flashed.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 2nd day of February A. D. 1927.

NATHAN ABRAMSON. 

